Beam shafting apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for facilitating the positioning of a plurality of yarn beams upon a common support shaft having a tapered nose cone includes a wheeled frame having a plurality of beam-supporting sub-assemblies mounted thereon for displacement relative to the frame and relative to each other for axially aligning yarn beams supported upon the sub-assemblies for receiving the support shaft. Adjacent sub-assemblies may be interlocked for displacement together as a unit when supporting a beam having a length greater than a single sub-assembly.

United States Patent [191 Faille BEAM SHAFTING APPARATUS Harold E. Faille, Greensboro, NC.

[73] Assignee: Guilford Mills, Inc., Greensboro,

22 Filed: Jan. 15, 1973 21 Appl.No.: 323,875

[75] Inventor:

52 US. Cl. .L 28/41 [51] Int. Cl. D03j 1/00 [58] Field of Search 248/23, 350; 214/390; 28/41, 42

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,861,813 11/1958 Rainey 243/350 3,021,100 2/1962 Verhota 1 July 16, 1974 3,433,499 3/1969 Meierhofer 28/41 Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudon [S 7 ABSTRACT An apparatus for facilitating the positioning of a plurality of yarn beams upon a common support shaft having a tapered nose cone includes a wheeled frame having a plurality of beam-supporting sub-assemblies mounted thereon for displacement relative to the frame and relative to each other for axially aligning yarn beams supported upon the sub-assemblies for receiving the support shaft. Adjacent sub-assemblies may be interlocked for displacement together as a unit when supporting a beam having a length greater than 1 a single sub-assembly.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 1 81974 SHEET 1 (I 2 BEAM SHAFI'ING APPARATUS BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION cult to axially align a series of beams for the insertion of a support shaft therethrough, due to the differences and size of the beams and due to the wear of the beam flanges, when the beams are supported upon a common surface, such as a floor.

Briefly, the present invention includes a generally rectangular base frame which may be provided with support wheels. A plurality of yarn beam supporting sub-assemblies are mounted upon the base frame for displacement relative to each other and relative to the base frame. Each sub-assembly includes members for retaining thereon a beam of a prescribed size or length. Longer beams may be supported upon two or more sub-assemblies by interlocking together adjacent subassemblies for movement together as a unit. Due to the mounting of the sub-assemblies upon the base frame, the yarn beams can be readily displaced into axial alignment as a support shaft is urged through the beams. The shafts maybe provided with a nose cone to facilitate movement and guiding of the shaft relative to the beams upon the sub-assemblies.

One of the primary objects of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for positioning a series of yarn beams upon a common shaft.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a beam shafting apparatus which substantially eliminates damages to the beams and shafts and greatly reduces the time required for the shafting operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a beam shafting apparatus which will accommodate beams of various sizes.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a shafting apparatus which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which is of a relatively simple construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent when considered in view of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the beam shafting apparatus of the present invention illustrating four subassemblies mounted for displacement relative to the main frame, and with yarn beams, illustrated in broken lines, positioned upon each of the sub-assemblies;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the beam shafting apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the shafting apparatus of FIG. 1, illustrating one sub-assembly;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the shafting apparatus with a shaft being directed through three yarn beams, one elongated beam being supported upon two interlocked sub-assemblies; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of an end portion of a shaft illustrating the manner of removing therefrom or inserting therein a nose cone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawing, the yarn beam shafting apparatus preferably is of metal construction and includes a base frame 12, a plurality of beam-supporting sub-assemblies l4, and a plurality of movable support means, such as springs 16, for facilitating displacement of the sub-assemblies 14 relative to the base frame 12.

' The base frame 12 generally is rectangular in configuration being formed of spaced, longitudinally extending members 18, interconnected by spaced, transversely extending members 22. The members 18, 20 and 22 may be formed of downwardly opening channel members, as shown byFIG. 2, secured together by weldingor other suitable means. The base frame 12 may be supported upon a series of roller assemblies 24 and 26, the central roller assemblies 24 being fixed relative to the frame and the outermost roller assemblies being capable of pivotable movement about vertical axes. A series of vertically disposed rod members 28 are secured to and extend upwardly from the longitudinally extending frame members 18, 20.

Since the beam supporting sub-assemblies 14 are substantially identical, only one sub-assembly will be described in detail. Each sub-assembly includes a substantially rectangular or square frame consisting of tubular members 30 and 32, FIG. 2, rigidly secured together. Each of the tubular members 30 have openings therein for receiving the vertically disposed rods 28.

The compression springs 16 are provided intermediate the longitudinal members 18, 20 of the base frame and the tubular members 30 of the sub-assemblies 14 for resiliently supporting and permitting displacement of the sub-assemblies 14 relative to each other and relative to the base frame 12. The elongated coil springs 16 encompass the vertically disposed rods and bear against. the tubular members 30 and the members 18, 20. Portions 34 of the upper ends of rods 28 engage the tubular members 30 to limit movement of the subassembly '14 away from the base frame 12. It is to be understood that other types of spring arrangements, fluid cylinders, etc. may be utilized for permitting movement of the sub-assemblies for axial alignment of the beams supported thereon.

The end of each sub-assembly 1.4 is provided with an assembly 36 for retaining a yarn beam 38 thereon, as shown most clearly by FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. In the embodiment illustrated, each beam retaining assembly 36 includes a horizontally disposed channel member 40, which extends transversely of the shafting apparatus 10 and longitudinally extending members 18, 20, a vertical plate 42, and spaced angle members'44. The vertical plate. is secured to the outermost, upper edge of channel member 40 while the angle members 44 are secured in spaced relation to member 40 and plate 42 to form a generally V-shaped recess or cradle for receiving and retaining an end flange 46 of a yarn beam 38.

Normally the beams 38 include a hollow tube or barrel portion, adapted to have yarn wound thereon, and end flanges having openings aligned with the barrel portionv for receiving a shaft 48. When two or more beams 38, filled with yarns, are to be mounted upon a shaft 48, it is difficult to axially align the beams and insert a shaft therethrough when the beams are supported upon a common support surface due to the slight variations and sizes of the beams and wear of the beam flanges. Mounting of the yarn beams upon displaceable sub-assemblies 14, as shown by FIG. 4, permits the beams to move relative to each other such that a shaft 48 can be readily directed through the beams. Preferably, the end of shaft 48 is provided with a releasable tapered nose portion 50 for guiding or directing a shaft 48 through the barrel portions of the beams 38.

The yarn beams 38 and the sub-assemblies 14 may be of various sizes. Some of the more common sizes of beams are approximately 21 inches by 2l inches, 21 inches by 42 inches, 30 inches by 21 inches, and 30 inches by 42 inches. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the four sub-assemblies are adapted to receive beams 38 having a length approximately 21 inches. However, in order to-accommodate beams of approximately 42 inches in length, means are provided for rigidly coupling together adjacent sub-assemblies 14. As shown most clearlyby FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the coupling means illustrated comprises a plurality of brackets or straps 52, two brackets being provided approximate adjacent end portions of tubular members 30, at each side of the sub-assemblies l4, and a slide latch or bar 54. The slide bar 54 normally is maintained in an unlatched condition, as shown by FIG. 1 and the right side of FIG. 4, when a beam 38 is supported upon each sub-assembly 14. When a beam of approximately 42 inches is to be supported upon two sub-assemblies, as shown at the left side of FIG. 2, the slide bars 54 are displaced to latched positions-such that the two interlocked sub-assemblies move together as a unit. The bar 54, when in the latched position, also serves to prevent the intermediate beam retaining assemblies 36 adjacent the bars 54 from pivoting upwardly and damaging yarn wound upon the beam due to the forces of the coil springs 16. Pins 56 may be provided for engaging the handle portions of a bar 54 for retaining the bar in the unlocked position, while pin 58 is provided to prevent accidental sliding movement of the latch bar when in the locked position. It is to be understood that various other types of coupling arrangements may be provided for interlocking adjacent sub-assemblies.

I claim:

I. An apparatus for supporting a plurality of yarn beams and for facilitating axial alignment of the yarn beams for axially receiving a beam-support shaft through the plurality of aligned beams comprising; a base frame, a plurality of sub-assemblies mounted upon said base frame, means upon said sub-assemblies for receiving and retaining yarn beams, and means on said base frames supporting said sub-assemblies for displacement relative to each other and relative to said base frame for facilitating moving yarn beams supported thereon into axial alignment for receiving a beam-support shaft.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim I, wherein said means on said base frame for supporting said subassemblies for movement relative to said base frame permits movement of the sub-assemblies relative to each other.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said means on said base frame for supporting said subassemblies for movement relative to each other and relative to said base frame includes a plurality of members adjacent each end of each sub-assembly.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein each of said members comprises a coil spring, the coil springs normally biasing the sub-assemblies generally vertical away from said base frame.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, and further including means for interlocking two adjacent subassemblies for movement together as a unit relative to said base frame for supporting a yarn beam upon said interlocked sub-assemblies.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said means for interlocking two adjacent sub-assemblies includes slidable bolt means.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said means upon said sub-assembliesfor receiving andretaining yarn beams includes angularly disposed members at the ends of each sub-assembly for defining cradles for receiving flanges of a yarn beam.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, and further including wheel assemblies for permitting displacement beam supporting sub-assemblies mounted upon said base frame, means on said sub-assemblies for receiving and retaining yarn beams, means on said base frame supporting said sub-assemblies to permit vertical movement relative to said base frame during alignment, and means displaceable axially of the yarn beams for selectively displacing the yarn beams and sub-assemblies to axially align the beams. 

1. An apparatus for supporting a plurality of yarn beams and for facilitating axial alignment of the yarn beams for axially receiving a beam-support shaft through the plurality of aligned beams comprising; a base frame, a plurality of sub-assemblies mounted upon said base frame, means upon said sub-assemblies for receiving and retaining yarn beams, and means on said base frames supporting said sub-assemblies for displacement relative to each other and relative to said base frame for facilitating moving yarn beams supported thereon into axial alignment for receiving a beam-support shaft.
 2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means on said base frame for supporting said sub-assemblies for movement relative to said base frame permits movement of the sub-assemblies relative to each other.
 3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said means on said base frame for supporting said sub-assemblies for movement relative to each other and relative to said base frame includes a plurality of members adjacent each end of each sub-assembly.
 4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein each of said members comprises a coil spring, the coil springs normally biasing the sub-assemblies generally vertical away from said base frame.
 5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, and further including means for interlocking two adjacent sub-assemblies for movement together as a unit relative to said base frame for supporting a yarn beam upon said interlocked sub-assemblies.
 6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said means for interlocking two adjacent sub-assemblies includes slidable bolt means.
 7. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said means upon said sub-assemblies for receiving and retaining yarn beams includes angularly disposed members at the ends of each sub-assembly for defining cradles for receiving flanges of a yarn beam.
 8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, and further including wheel assemblies for permitting displacement of said base frame.
 9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said meanS supporting said sub-assemblies includes a plurality of members normally urging said sub-assemblies away from said base frame.
 10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, and further including means for interlocking preselected, adjacent sub-assemblies for simultaneous movement.
 11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means displaceable axially of said yarn beams includes a shaft having a tapered end portion.
 12. Apparatus for axially aligning a plurality of yarn beams comprising; a base frame, a plurality of yarn beam supporting sub-assemblies mounted upon said base frame, means on said sub-assemblies for receiving and retaining yarn beams, means on said base frame supporting said sub-assemblies to permit vertical movement relative to said base frame during alignment, and means displaceable axially of the yarn beams for selectively displacing the yarn beams and sub-assemblies to axially align the beams. 